Encounters Documentary Festival 2017

Now in its 19th year, this prestigious film festival is the event that movie buffs look forward to all year. Not only is it an opportunity to watch the most buzzed-about local and international documentaries, it also impacts positively on the local documentary-making industry, spurring local filmmakers to up their ante.

During the 2017 festival, we’re looking forward to:

• Last Men in Aleppo: The story follows members the White Helmets, a volunteer groupand Aleppo’s first responders during the five-year Syrian civil war, as they heroically help those in need.
• Jazz – The Only Way of Life: This documentary follows the lives and friendship of renowned trumpeter and Bebop founder, Dizzy Gillespie, and Swiss engineer, Jacques Muyal.
• The African Who Wanted to Fly: Based on Luc Bendza’s lifelong dream and mission to fly like a kung fu fighter, the story follows 10-year-old Luc from Koulamoutou, Gabon, and his journey to working on kung fu films and with Jackie Chan.
• The Eagle Huntress: This powerful documentary, narrated by Daisy Ridley (from Star Wars), tells the story of 13-year-old Aisholpan, a Mongolian girl, as she fights her Kazakh family to become the first female eagle hunter in 12 generations.

Documentaries will be screened at the V&A Cinema Nouveau and the Labia Theatre in Cape Town.

The festival programme and schedule is available online.